RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Severe drought in Romania

Romania is facing severe drought, even worse than the one in 1947, according to some voices

Severe drought in Romania
Severe drought in Romania

, 27.04.2020, 13:40

In 2015, Romania was launching a programme to revamp its old irrigation system. It was an ambitious 5-year programme targeting a total surface area of around 2 million hectares by the end of 2020.



However, at present only about 850,000 hectares are irrigable, and the programme was extended several years. In other words, only 10% of the countrys total farm area can be irrigated.



Even so, farmers have only filed applications for around 100,000 hectares, says the line minister Adrian Oros. The situation is dramatic, because although Romania takes pride in its fertile land, its agriculture continues to rely heavily on the weather.



And it has hardly rained at all in Romania over the past few months, there was little to no snow during the winter, and the consequences are increasingly evident.



According to centralised data, in April we had 7 litres of precipitation per square metre, as opposed to an average of 53 litres.



In short, Romania is facing a drought described by Minister Adrian Oros as “strong and extreme, as we havent seen in recent years.



The worst situation in reported in Dobrogea, Bărăgan and Moldavia, that is in the south-east, south and east of the country. Here is how Nicolae Moraru, the mayor of a village in the east, describes the situation:



Nicolae Moraru: “There are farmers in difficult positions, who own 400 – 500 hectares each and incur substantial expenses. They are threatened by bankruptcy. They have used their land, property, homes as collaterals. The situation is disastrous in our region.



According to the Agriculture Ministry, 3 million hectares under crops since autumn are already destroyed. The rape, wheat, rye and barley crops are the most affected. Many farmers already warn that bread will be more expensive this autumn, although authorities argue that it is too soon to tell.



In an interview to a private TV channel, minister Adrian Oros explained that even if half of the crops were destroyed, the domestic demand would still be covered:



Adrian Oros: “It is much too soon. What happens in Europe and in the rest of the world is also important. During the good years, when it rained enough, Romanias wheat yield was 7, 8 or even 9 million tons of wheat, and we only use around 2 and a half to 3 million tons. The same for maize, the yield was 14-15 million tons, and the maximum demand in Romania is 7 million tons. So even if half the crops were destroyed, the domestic demand would still be covered.



Weather experts bring us a piece of good news: on Friday they expect rain across the country. But the precipitation amount is not likely to be very large—an average of 10 litres per square metre.


(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

Meeting the Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer (foto: gov.ro)
Today in the News Thursday, 14 November 2024

The Romanian PM pays visit to London

The Romanian Prime Minister made a working visit to the UK.   On Tuesday and Wednesday, Marcel Ciolacu paid the first visit by a Romanian prime...

The Romanian PM pays visit to London
Roxana Mînzatu (photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   

European MPs heard Roxana Mînzatu, Romania’s candidate for Vice-President for the People, Skills and Preparedness portfolio.   ʺIt was...

 Roxana Mînzatu, heard by MEPs   
Gen. Gheorghita Vlad Photo: facebook.com/sef.smap
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

    Less than 2 weeks from now, Romania will hold the first round of its presidential election, and the campaign remains low-key, limited...

Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe
EP and local elections in Romania on June 9 (Photo credits: AEP)
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Preparations for the elections abroad

  After the local and European parliamentary elections, held simultaneously on June 9, Romanians are preparing for an election marathon. They will...

Preparations for the elections abroad
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Growing trade deficit

The trade balance deficit recorded in Romania in the first nine months of the current year increased by 15%, as compared to the same period of 2023,...

Growing trade deficit
Today in the News Monday, 11 November 2024

Central Bank Report on Inflation

The latest report on inflation was approved at the end of last week by the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania. According to the...

Central Bank Report on Inflation
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company